Washington DC Security Guard Resource Center

Can I become a DC Special Police Officer (SPO) if I have a felony or misdemeanor on my record?

DC Criminal History and Applying for a Special Police Officer (SPO) Certification

Those who have recently committed felonies are not normally eligible for licensing as a special police officer until ten years after release from incarceration.

LAST EDIT June 20, 2017

A DC Special Police Officer on break near downtown DC.

DC Code Title 6a sets forth the standards to be used by District officials as they consider the application of a person who is applying to become a DC special police officer.

This law establishes three criteria for excluding those with a criminal history.

Here are these criteria:

1. an applicant for an SPO license must not have been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been given probation prior to judgment in a charge of violence -- as defined by the District's Title 23-1331(4) which you can read below; and

2. an applicant must not have been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been given probation prior to judgment in a felony charge unless it has been at least 10 years since the applicant has been released from incarceration and any associated parole or government supervision; and

3. an applicant must not have been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been given probation prior to judgment in a misdemeanor charge -- excluding traffic offenses -- unless it has been at least five years since the applicant has been released from incarceration and any associated parole or government supervision.

Additionally, the District may look at other factors such as the applicant's criminal traffic offense record, findings of mental incompetence and information provided by the applicant to demonstrate his rehabilitation and good conduct since the time of any criminal findings.

A special police officer must continue to abide by standards even after his application has been awarded. If he is arrested, he has two days to notify the District of his arrest. His failure to notify the District could result in his license being revoked.

The District conducts random criminal background checks of those who hold licenses.

As of the time of this writing, Title 23-1331(4) reads as follows:

"The term “crime of violence” means aggravated assault; act of terrorism; arson; assault on a police officer (felony); assault with a dangerous weapon; assault with intent to kill, commit first degree sexual abuse, commit second degree sexual abuse, or commit child sexual abuse; assault with significant bodily injury; assault with intent to commit any other offense; burglary; carjacking; armed carjacking; child sexual abuse; cruelty to children in the first degree; extortion or blackmail accompanied by threats of violence; gang recruitment, participation, or retention by the use or threatened use of force, coercion, or intimidation; kidnapping; malicious disfigurement; manslaughter; manufacture or possession of a weapon of mass destruction; mayhem; murder; robbery; sexual abuse in the first, second, or third degrees; use, dissemination, or detonation of a weapon of mass destruction; or an attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing offenses."